SUMMARY MEETING NOTES July 31, 2013

Transcription

1 SUMMARY MEETING NOTES July 31, 2013 To the Montgomery County Cybersecurity Industry Alliance and The Montgomery County Workforce Investment Board Program Planning Committee Facilitated and Prepared by: Strumpf Associates: Center for Strategic Change On behalf of the Montgomery County WIB and Program Planning Committee Meeting Notes Cybersecurity 1 Montgomery County WIB

2 Meeting Summary Meeting called by: Type of meeting: Date: Montgomery County Workforce Investment Board (WIB) Program Planning Committee Strategic Alliance of Industry, Education and Workforce Representatives for Cybersecurity July 31, :30 a.m to 10:00a.m. Attendees: Industry Representatives: Jason Bach, Mosaic Data Services; Frank Bentz, Sandy Spring Bank; Scott Charbo, Accenture; Mike Kuburski, PEPCO; Diane Miller, Northrop Grumman; Steve Reinkemeyer, Redport Information Assurance; Keith Young, Montgomery County; Dan Ward, The MITRE Corporation; James Wei, Lockheed Martin Information Technology Educational Representatives: C.K. Chiang, Montgomery College; Steve Greenfield, Montgomery College; Ben Shariati, UMBC WIB Representatives: Debbie Murphy, Program Planning Committee Chair; Barbara Kaufmann, WIB Director; Lori Strumpf, Consultant to the WIB Agenda Item: Introductions The meeting began with Barbara Kaufmann, WIB Executive Director, providing an overview of the WIB s strategy with regard to Industry Alliances, the purpose of today s meeting, and the expected outcome. Barbara stated that the outcome of the meeting was for the workforce system to develop an in-depth understanding of the industry s workforce needs and to be responsive to those needs in real time to create industry specific skill based curriculum and training programs along the K-16 continuum. She then introduced Deborah Murphy, Program Planning Committee Chair, who made the following key points: The mission of the WIB is to help businesses succeed through workforce services. The WIB is a public-private partnership that assists the County in connecting business with job seekers. The WIB does its work through oversight of MontgomeryWorks and advising the County Executive and Council. The WIB has decided to take an industry sector approach to its work. Debbie described this as a strategy by which the WIB becomes experts in providing workforce solutions to businesses within targeted industry sectors. The WIB members examined labor market data and made the decision to select industries that were either high growth and high demand or high wage. High growth and high demand industries are: Meeting Notes Cybersecurity 2 Montgomery County WIB

3 Industries with significant job growth Industries that are critical to the economic viability and development of the community Industries that significantly impact other growth industries The WIB has identified three industry sectors to be the targeted areas in which to grow expertise as a system and in which to provide relevant labor market information to organizations that provide education and workforce services. Professional and Business Services, Food Services (Hospitality) and Health and Education Debbie told the group that they are the second Alliance being convened by the WIB. The Allied Health Industry Alliance began about a year ago. Within Professional and Business Services, Debbie described how cybersecurity was prioritized. Through discussion about the number of sub industries and occupations within Professional and Business Services and where to begin to focus within that industry, the WIB conducted an opportunity analysis. Based on several key factors, including the fact that cybersecurity is a county economic development priority and with the creation of the National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCoE), the WIB decided to proceed with this subsector. The analysis suggests that cybersecurity has many opportunities for the WIB s workforce services to be of value to the industry in general and the companies represented here specifically. Debbie s key point was that this initial meeting was designed to provide an opportunity to listen to industry experts. Any strategies developed and actions taken will be guided by this discussion. After her remarks, Debbie turned the meeting over to the WIB s consultant, Lori Strumpf, to facilitate the remainder of the meeting. Agenda Item: Current and Future Workforce Challenges Lori began by asking each industry representative to describe workforce challenges they see for the Cybersecurity Industry in general and more specifically for their company/organization. Lori suggested that the conversation stay focused on the key challenges and not yet move to potential solutions. The following is a summary of the key points made by the industry participants. This does not necessarily represent a consensus of the group. Rather it is a summary of areas that a participant mentioned and others discussed and were in general agreement with. Building Awareness. Several of the industry participants comments were focused on the need for a quality, steady pipeline. Several stated that this needs to start in high school. One participant stressed that high school is too late, and that their experience has been in working with middle schools to build interest and awareness. Standards. Several of the participants commented on the lack of and advent of standards for the industry. Meeting Notes Cybersecurity 3 Montgomery County WIB

4 Work Experience. Several of the industry participants expressed the desire to hire workers who have some experience outside of the classroom. This experience can be gained through internships and other work-based learning experiences. Workforce Skills Needed. In general the participants stated that they are most often seeking skilled workers with some opportunities for semi-skilled workers. Those who have been cleared or can be cleared is a requirement as well. The industry participants noted that in addition to the technical skills an individual might need for the variety of occupations in this sector, other skills have become increasingly necessary, not just nice to have, including: customer service skills, team skills, and work ethic. One key attribute was also stressed by some of the participants. Individuals need to have character, meaning certain moral qualities. Agenda Item: Examine Data Trends for the Industry Lori asked participants if the Industry Brief that was sent in advance of the meeting seemed to be an accurate labor market snap shot. All agreed they thought the information contained in the brief was accurate. Agenda Item: Identify Potential Strategies to Address Challenges The discussion on challenges was very lively and engaging. The time ran short to really explore potential strategies that might be undertaken collectively. The education representatives did not have a chance to fully describe what already exists and what else they might be able to provide based on the issues raised by the industry representative. This will be addressed in another venue. However, Lori pointed out that all of the education representatives mentioned that they were taking the information learned from the industry representatives back to their own institutions to see what might be actionable. Lori asked if the group was willing to meet again to continue the conversation with a focus on collective strategy development focused on the challenges identified. Everyone agreed that they would be willing to come to another meeting where actions and outcomes could be further defined. KEY TAKE AWAYS There is a need to build the pipeline of workers by introducing STEM careers to students beginning in middle school. Better middle school and high school preparation that builds awareness among students and school personnel about STEM related occupations and career pathways is needed at all the County s schools, not just some. Meeting Notes Cybersecurity 4 Montgomery County WIB

5 Opportunities to help career switchers understand STEM related occupations is needed as well, with mechanisms to build awareness among those individuals no longer touched by a school system and then to provide the related training required. Assessments that can be used to evaluate character as well as competencies related to team skills, communication, and other general workplace skills are needed. Some employers in the meeting expressed an interest in having a portal that would identify local talent, work ready/industry ready individuals that was accessible and user friendly. Programs may need to be much more robust and tougher to ensure that education and training programs are up to date and relevant to ensure students receive the training that employers need. Agenda Item: Next Steps The group agreed to meet again. The Program Planning Committee will take the information and meet with the educational representatives to discuss some potential strategies to bring back to the Alliance members. Barbara will follow-up with a suggested meeting date for the Alliance within the next 8 weeks. Adjourned: 10:00a. Meeting Notes Cybersecurity 5 Montgomery County WIB